The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for October
16-" Power to Forgive
Sins"

From the Chicago Standard. BY Rev. j. M.
Coon
The subject for this lesson may be found in
the first eight verses of the ninth chapter of
Matthew. Time, summer Of A d. % Place,
Capernaum, after crossing the sea from the
Gadarenes.
SPECIAL MENTION.
The palsy Many infirmities wero included
under the general name Of palsy in the New
Testament l. The paralytc shock, affecting
the whole body. . The hemiplegy, affecting
only one side Of the body; the most frequent
form Of the disease. 8. The paraplegy, af-
iecting all the system below tho neck 4.
The catalepsy. This is caused by contrac-
ton Of the muscles in the whole or a part Of
the body, and is very dangerous The effects
are very violent and fatal. For instance, If,
when person Is struck, he happens to have
his hand extended, he is unable to draw 1t
back; if not extended, he is unable to stretch
it out 1t gradually becomes diminished in
size, and dried up in appearance Hence 1t
was called the withered hand Matt H. 1918.
). The cramp. This, in Eastern countries, is
fearful malady, and by no means unfre-
quent 1t originates from chills in the night
The limbs when seized by il remain unmov-
able, and the person afflicted with it resem-
bioo Oho unuoiBOinB thio was
probably the disease OF the servant of the
centurion Matt s: o; Luke z: p. Death
follows from the disease in few days.
(Barnes.)
The Oriental Bed This was simply q mat
or blanket which could be carried in the
hands. The poor sometimes had no other
bed than the outer garment. The wealthier
people in the East have quilts or mattresses
filled with cotton, which are spread on the
floor or on the divan In the text the paral-
" hQ NUa n m IA kn mn In ha1
and go home All he had to do was to roll up
his blanket and depart A similar incident
took place at the pool Of Bethesda (see John
5: 5, 9, IL, 12). On such simple ~beds" the
sick were easily carried. This is referred TO
in Matt o: 2; Mark 2: 8, 4 Luke 5: IS; Acts
3: 10
Eastern Houses There was such dense
crowd around our Lord that the four men
could not force their way through it, and
therefore they went TO the roof OF the house,
broke up part of II, and let down the sick man
from above. The following considerations
may make this act Ineligible. We must ban
ish from our minds every form OF European
or American houses Those of Capernaum,
as is evident from the ruins, were like those
of modern villages in this same region, low,
very low, with fiat roofs, reached by stair
way from the yard or court Jesus probably
stood IN the open lewan, aud the crowd were
around and in front OF HIM Those who car
ried the paralytc not being able "to come at
him for the press" assembled to the roof, re-
moved 80 much of 1t as was necessary, and let
down their patient through the aperture. Ex-
anime one of these houses, and you see at
once that the thing is natural and easily ac-
complished. The roof is only few feet high,
and by STOPPING down, and holding the cor
ners OF the couch-merely thickly padded
quilt as at present in this region-they could
lot down the sick man without any apparatus
of ropes or cords to assist them. And thus, l
suppose, they did The whole affair was the
extemporaneous device Of plaiu peasants ac-
customed to open their roofs and let down
grain, straw and other articles, as they still do
in this country. (Ihomsonl.
Gergesd (also called Gadara). There is not
much doubt about GergeSa 1t is coming TO
be regarded as Identical with Chersa or Gersa,
on the eastern shore of the sea, and on the
border OF the district or province which took
its name from Gadara, one Of the chief cities
OF Decapolis. Mark and Luke say GGdGreneS,
and some manuscripts have that word in
Matthew. The variations in the manuscripts
OF the three evangeists are numerous. The
city referred to, it is thought by many, could
hardly have been Gadara, which was three
hours to the south of the southern shore of
the sea But DR.. William Thompson discov-
cred Chersa or Gergesa within few rods OF
the eastern shore of the sea. mountain
rises Immediately above it, so near the shore
that the swine, rushing madly down, would be
inevitably driven into the water. The ruins
of ancient tombs are still found in this noun
tain-side, and Capernaum rs in full view on
the other side, @over against it" duke s: pa
TOPIC AND OUTLINE
The lesson presents Christ in his different
treatment OF individuals, and their different
attitudes toward him. We see o. some reject
ing him, and these he abandons ". u; GU
some seek him, and these he welcomes w. y;
| C3) some trust him, and these he blesses
| ". ~; az some critcse and cavil, and these
he seeks to persuade and convince Tvs. 90;
some reverenty worship him, and to these he
reveals himself more and more.
In this lesson upon the forgiveness Of sin,
we may well emphasize the importance Of
Seeing their faith" probably referring TO
the faith of the whole five. The four have
| faith to bring the paraytic, and the paralytic
has faith to be brought Possibly the sufferer
| prevailed on his friends to bring him to Jesus.
! Christ seems to grant the forgiveness before
faith makes the request, but he knew the
faith was there. He knows, too, how to de-
velop faith in each case Here he encour-
ages, entices the faith by throwing out the
! blessing. In the case of the Syro- Phenican
woman he provoked the faith by temporary
withholding of the blessing. We may be sure
| Jesus saw the germ of true and strong faith
in this paralytic, who thereby was ready to
receive and understand this message Of for
| giveness.
But the first verses of this chapter, do they
not give us picture of earnest perseverng
| faithY Nothing battles or defeats ii, but it
! develops (true to its nature) in inventveness
| IN resources IN power, as the dlfhcultles null
! tiply
10 secure forgiveness we must find Christ
to find Christ we must have faith. True faith
! ~ seeks Christ, C9 scorns difficulties, C3) waits
Christs name (D promptly obeys Christ's
command, 5) submits entirely to Christs
| method.
While thus emphasizing the necessity of
faith, and affirming its power, we need con-
stantly to remember that it is but the channel
through which forgiveness flows. 1t is the
condition of forgiveness, but it is only the
condition.
The place of faith as related to the salvation
of others is suggested by this lesson. 1t is
| one form of effort on behalf of others Indeed
| it is fundamental, for If that be lacking all
other work Is vain. In some way the believ-
ers faith il effective to the salvation OF others
| The conduct OF these four bearing the para
| lytic, and of Matthew inviting his friends
where they may meet Jesus, teach lesson
| the Christian world needs to be constantly
| learning They who are the called of God are
| to be also callers TO and for God.
| sEED-TRUTHs AND GERNI-THoUGHTs.
| l. Christ will not remain with those who de-
| liberately and persistently reject him ". ~.
| 2 III we choose demons anil swine we will
| not desire Christ w. ~.
3 Faith will find its way to Christ w. p.
L. True faith Is rewarded beyond its own
| expectation w. y.
s. Only God can forgive sins; Jesus for
| gives sins; therefore Jesus is God ". p.